• Tim Gillooley was 'thrown across the room' when he went to unplug device
  • He believes daughter Chloe, 8, would have been killed by the shock
  • Last month a Chinese woman was reportedly killed after answering an iPhone while it was plugged in

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 20:12 EST, 27 August 2013 | UPDATED: 20:12 EST, 27 August 2013


A concerned father has told how his daughter's iPad charger exploded in his hand giving him a massive electric shock which he believes 'would have killed her'.

Tim Gillooley, 34, said he was thrown across the room and left with blackened fingers when he reached down to unplug the device at his mother's house in Widnes, Cheshire.

And he believes his eight-year-old daughter Chloe would most likely have been killed had it been her, instead of him, who had touched the device.

Shock: Tim Gillooley and his daughter, Chloe, 8, with the Apple iPad and charger, which exploded as he unplugged it giving him a massive electric shock

Shock: Tim Gillooley and his daughter, Chloe, 8, with the Apple iPad and charger, which exploded as he unplugged it giving him a massive electric shock

According to Mr Gillooley Chloe asked him to unplug the charger on his way back from the bathroom on Saturday last weekend.

He told the Daily Mirror: 'There was a huge bang and it blew me across the room. I was in shock.

'I was hysterically laughing for about two minutes. It was a bad shock that went down my arm. My mum was panicking and Chloe burst into tears.

'Nine times out of 10, Chloe would have gone to get it herself. I think it would have killed her.'

Mr Gillooley, from Warrington, bought the iPad for Chloe's birthday last November from the Apple store in Liverpool.

But some months later it began to develop charging problems and he returned it to the store but was told there was nothing wrong with the charger or the device.

Frazzled: The remains of the iPad charger which Mr Gooley said had exploded in his hand

Frazzled: The remains of the iPad charger which Mr Gooley said had exploded in his hand

They purchased a new genuine Apple charger complete with lightening cable in the hope it would solve the problem but it continued.

He added: 'We were big fans of Apple but I won't let my daughter near her iPhone if it's a ticking time bomb.'

Apple – who have requested Mr Gillooley send them the remains of the charger for examination – are yet to comment.

Last month a Chinese air stewardess Ma Ailun, 23, was reportedly killed by an electric shock when she answered a call on her iPhone 5 while it was recharging.

Apple said they have launched an investigation into the claims.


The comments below have been moderated in advance.

We hear so much gossip that my iPad or iPod or iPhone's charger blew up in my hands. I could have been killed etc etc. Does anyone actually examine that the charger was in good condition before blowing up. Most of us misuse our electronic gadets oneway or another and when they dont work or blow up we blame the manufacturers, possibly seeking a freebie or two. Can we honestly say that we treat our electronic gadgets with the respect they deserve and to manufacturers user guildlines etc. I know I dont sometimes......I dunno, just thinking out aloud.

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"They purchased a new genuine Apple charger complete with lightening cable in the hope it would solve the problem but it continued." ----------- But was this from the Apple store?

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The article says his 8 year old daughter has both an iphone AND an ipad!!! Unbelievable.

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Does anyone else think that the dimensions on that iPad look off?

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Why would an 8 year old have an iPad and iPhone???

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Sorry but... That's an iPhone charger not an iPad charger. The iPad requires a lot more power and therefore will attempt to pull more power thus overloading the device and causing it to go pop. I'm sure Apple will have supplied them with the correct PSU, but if the end user chooses to use another type then this is what happens.

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An 8 year old does not need an iPad and an iphone! Why should an 8 year old be far enough away from her parents to need to call them? Parents need to be ashamed!

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bloody cheap apple product... just don't buy it...

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8 year old.... IPad and iphone! Shudder!

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I listened to some kids while waiting outside a shop. Their conversation consisted of grunts and about 50 times the word 'like'. What a wonderful future we will all have.

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